Alex uses genetic, proteomic and metabolomic approaches to study both infectious and chronic diseases.

She is currently funded by a Queensland Accelerate Fellowship to characterise the virulence mechanisms of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a pathogen that has caused massive population declines in frog species worldwide. Alex is also funded by a JCU Rising Star Grant to study how oxidative stress can drive obesity-linked liver cancer.

Her previous research has focused on thiol-dependent antibiotic resistance and oxidative stress protection in Firmicutes, iron sequestration in marine actinomycetes, and the biosynthesis of cyanobacterial toxins.

Teaching

• BC2014: Principles of Biochemistry for Pharmacy Students (Level 2; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Enzymology
• Virulence mechanisms
• Amphibian chytrid fungus
• Chytridiomycosis
• Liver cancer
• Metabolomics
• Oxidative stress

Experience

• 2018 to present - Lecturer - Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2013 to present - Research Fellow, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2010 to 2012 - Senior Research Associate, University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK)
• 2008 to 2010 - Postdoctoral Researcher, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California San Diego (San Diego, USA)
• 2004 to 2009 - PhD Microbiology and Immunology, University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia)

Research Disciplines

• Veterinary Sciences (0707)
• Microbiology (0605)
• Oncology and Carcinogenesis (1112)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species (9604)
• Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity (9608)

Fellowships

• 2015 to 2018 - Accelerate Fellowship - Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
• 2016 to 2017 - Rising Star Grant - James Cook University
• 2004 to 2008 - Australian Postgraduate Award
• 2004 to 2008 - CRC for Water Quality and Treatment Postgraduate Award

Memberships

• 2016 - Member of the Australian Society for Microbiology
• 2016 - Member of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Dewdney B, Alanzay M, Gillman R, Walker S, Wankell M, Qiao L, George J, Roberts A and Hebbard L (2020) The effects of fructose and metabolic inhibition on hepatocellular carcinoma. Scientific Reports, 10, Article: 16769, DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-73653-5.
• Dewdney B, Roberts A, Qiao L, George J and Hebbard L (2020) A sweet connection? Fructose’s role in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomolecules, 10 (4), Article: 496, DOI:10.3390/biom10040496.
• Claytor S, Gummer J, Grogan L, Skerratt L, Webb R, Brannelly L, Berger L and Roberts A (2019) Susceptibility of frogs to chytridiomycosis correlates with increased levels of immunomodulatory serotonin in the skin. Cellular Microbiology, 21 (10), Article: e13089, DOI:10.1111/cmi.13089..
• Kosch T, Silva C, Brannelly L, Roberts A, Lau Q, Marantelli G, Berger L and Skerratt L (2019) Genetic potential for disease resistance in critically endangered amphibians decimated by chytridiomycosis. Animal Conservation, 22 (3), pp. 238-250, DOI:10.1111/acv.12459.
• Roberts A, Berger L, Robertson S, Webb R, Kosch T, McFadden M, Skerratt L, Glass B, Motti C and Brannelly L (2019) The efficacy and pharmacokinetics of terbinafine against the frog-killing fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). Medical Mycology, 57 (2), pp. 204-214, DOI:10.1093/mmy/myy010.
• Webb R, Berger L, Skerratt L and Roberts A (2019) A rapid and inexpensive viability assay for zoospores and zoosporangia of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 65, Article: 105688, DOI:10.1016/j.mimet.2019.105688.
• Brannelly L, Roberts A, Skerratt L and Berger L (2017) Epidermal cell death in frogs with chytridiomycosis. PeerJ, 5, Article: e2925, pp. 1-20, DOI:10.7717/peerj.2925.
• Scheele B, Skerratt L, Grogan L, Hunter D, Clemann N, McFadden M, Newell D, Hoskin C, Gillespie G, Heard G, Brannelly L, Roberts A and Berger L (2017) After the epidemic: ongoing declines, stabilizations and recoveries inamphibians afflicted by chytridiomycosis. Biological Conservation, 206, pp. 37-46, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.12.010.
• Berger L, Roberts A, Voyles J, Longcore J, Murray K and Skerratt L (2016) History and recent progress on chytridiomycosis in amphibians. Fungal Ecology, 19, pp. 89-99, DOI:10.1016/j.funeco.2015.09.007.
• Wang W, He Y, Yu G, Li B, Sexton D, Wileman T, Roberts A, Hamilton C, Liu R, Chao Y, Shan Y and Bao Y (2015) Sulforaphane protects the liver against CdSe quantum dot-induced cytotoxicity. PLoS ONE, 10 (9), Article: e013877, pp. 1-17, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0138771.
• Gaballa A, Chi B, Roberts A, Becher D, Hamilton C, Antelmann H and Helmann J (2014) Redox regulation in Bacillus subtilis: the bacilliredoxins BrxA(YphP) and BrxB(YqiW) function in de-bacillithiolation of S-bacillithiolated OhrR and MetE. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 21 (3), pp. 357-367, DOI:10.1089/ars.2013.5327.
• Luan H, Meng N, Fu J, Chen X, Xu X, Feng Q, Jiang H, Dai J, Yuan X, Lu Y, Roberts A, Luo X, Chen M, Xu S, Li J, Hamilton C, Fang C and Wang J (2014) Genome-wide transcriptome and antioxidant analyses on gamma-irradiated phases of Deinococcus Radiodurans R1. PLoS ONE, 9 (1), Article: e85649, pp. 1-11, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0085649.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 27+ research outputs authored by Dr Alexandra Roberts from 2007 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• The Role of Fructose in Liver Cancer (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Reducing Virulence of Fungal Pathogens using Genetics Tools (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• The role of serotonin and glutathione in the pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.